Tink88_

another_anxious_1 My VAWA had a receipt notice for the 5th of December. My Prima Facie expiration date was the 9th of June. I had no RFE and my status was always fees waived. On the 2nd of June my case changed to approved.

For your EAD, send a request to Vermont like Sandra said. (regular Mail)

I spoke to an immigration officer at my Biometrics and asked about my Vawa as it had been about 5 months and he said he cannot give me any information, as it is taken care of by the VAWA unit... As long as you do not mention the VAWA on the hotline, you usually can inquire with them.

Today I got the online case update of my VAWA. APPROVED!!!

I am so very happy and feel so relieved!!

Thanks to everyone who had ever posted on here and Sandra giving advise and answering so many questions here, I was able to submit VAWA by myself.

I collected and organized and wrote papers from October through November and submitted probably about 200 pages to Vermont end of November.

I received my receipt notice on the 5th of December. Prima Facie on the 11th.

I had no psychological evaluation, but a lot of conversations from my husband and myself arguing, where he would accuse and insult me. Threaten me with deportation or taking my dog away.

In Wisconsin you can acces any court files online for free, so I had printed the whole court process, and submitted it with my VAWA.

My husband got charged with 2 counts of False Imprisonment ( Because whenever I wanted to leave him, he would take my phone away, block the doors, and throw me on the floor, when I would get near the door). 2 counts of disorderly conduct, 1 count of battery ( for hurting my hand, by throwing my purse at it and throwing me around the house and against a door) and 1 count of criminal dammage to property (he had smashed my desk lamp against the wall).

One day I had made it out of the house, and I said, that I will get Police to come, if he does not give me my phone. I called a friend in Chicago and his mother came to pick me up. I never returned to my husband from this day! He sent me so many nasty messages, left me evil voicemails, threatened me. When I wanted to get my belongings with my friend he was only yelling at me and throwing them around. My friend and I went to the Police after and I made a statement.

I was sooooo scared of that they would think I am being dramatic or lying... She saw the messages of how he talks to me, she listened to my story, and she put a warrant out the very same night. I was soooo scared of how he would react!!

The same evening he got arrested and luckily my dog was with him in the car and the officer surrendered her to me.

I had no money (I came with 6000$ to the USA and I had lent him money for his car repairs [which he obviously never paid back], bought food and paid bills - and my AOS petition)

I barely knew anyone...

I slept on my friends moms couch for three nights, and then a Family I barely knew took me in to live with them. I had maybe met them 4 times, before they offered me and my dog to stay with them!

This family means the world to me! They gave me a home, food and a family for over 8 months! Supported me with everything! Taught me how to drive a car, helped me figuring everything out, and NEVER pressured me! They probably spent a fortune on me! I was always welcome to go out with them for lunch or dinner with the whole family. They threw a birthday party for me! I got a christmas present! I do not know, how to ever give back, what they have given me!!

It took nearly 6 months for my VAWA to get approved and I had no RFE.

I can say THANK YOU, to everyone who had shared their story here and their knowledge, because it helped me putting my papers together!

When I seeked help for my divorce papers at the court house, I found a justice clinic there. They usually only help you with the papers, but when they heard my story, they decided to represent me with my restraining order (granted for 4 years), my divorce, and the AOS.

My original AOS package got denied in February, because I had no qualifying sponsor. In end of March, with help from the legal clinic, I applied for my EAD and AOS with a pending VAWA. My Biometrics were end of April and beginning od May I had my EAD approved.

End of this month will be my divorce and end of this year, my husband will get his verdict. He has to complete a mandatory Domestic Violence Program by the probation office. That was what I had suggested, when the parole officer asked me, if I would be ok, if he does not stay in jail, until the verdict.

I am planning on attending the verdict court date and to read out a victim impact statement. Because I never got the chance to tell my husband what he made me go through and what I had to go through after I left him. ( when I went to see my sister, my niece and my mother for christmas in Texas, on the flight back, I got detained at the airport, as I had no documentation from USCIS, proving my status. At the time I had not received any VAWA papers yet, and my original AOS was on hold. I did not know, that the papers had meanwhile arrived at the families house).

It made me stronger! It made me a better person! I am grateful, for that my marriage did not even last months and that I left as soon as I was able to!

And again, thank you to everyone who had a part of this! Most of you will not even know, because I just learned from all of your messages!

My EAD arrived today =DDDDDDD FINALLY!!! YAY!!!

Had Biometrics last Friday. Just got an E-Mail that my EAD ist in production now and will be mailed!!! FINALLY!!!

Bahmabreeze Sandra is helping as a regular person here, not as a lawyer. She does this in her free time, because she wants to help. She does not get any profit from this.

I think the least people can do is thank her. And I am sure if you do use your personal free time to help people, it can be frustrating when people have expectations or not even say thank you.

I cannot even imagine how much time she sacrifices for nothing in return.

If someone is not even willing to say thank you or complains about advice, then the person should not even ask in the first place.

People here are desperate for any kind of help and support. Because it is a very emotional draining long hard journey. And so far, genuine people have been more than thankful and helpful.

I cannot even put in words, how much it helps to know, that there are other people here, who know what it feels like and who share their experiences and advice. When there is no one to turn to, people can always rely on this group for advice or help, especially Sandra.

So please do not criticize her, when she simply is venting about that it is frustrating, when people do not show any gratefulness.

It will only ruin the ambiance in this group and may limit the help people receive here.

And that would be a shame! Because after all of the people that have completed their journey, the ones that are currently going through everything, there will be more people in the future needing the same help, as we all did...

I consider myself lucky, that I have received so much help and support so far and I do not get tired of thanking the people who had part in this!

And seeing all the people who reply and especially Sandra helping people with their cases gives me HOPE!

Hope that soon I can have a normal life again and start over....

Hopeful 2015 - if you set up an account on the USCIS case check tool, then enter all receipt numbers that you have pending with immigrations, then you can see if something was done with your case.

I feel for you!! Same here. I haven't heard yet either. I will send my Prima Facie extension request in soon and hopefully that might help....

No ... Has always only said Fees waived

No I did not...

As far as I understood that would happen if my VAWA gets denied...

Not the AOS...

I hope I get the VAWA approved soon and my EAD =(

The lawyer said it is a strong case, but you never know, until immigrations decide...

Had submitted my AOS package

October 2014

Had RFE in November for the affidativ or support

Asked in January to have it on hold until the VAWA decision

AOS package got denied in February because of the affidativ of support.

I submitted my VAWA 1st of December.

Receipt notice 5th of December 2014

Prima Facie 11th of December 2014 (Valid until June 9th 2015)

No RFE so far

After my AOS package got denied the Family Law clinic from the law department of the University (helped me with the restraining order and still helping me with the divorce) forwarded my case to their immigration department and they submitted the AOS and EAD with me end of March 2015 under VAWA. Got accepted and have receipt notices for 1st of April...

Thank you Angel66!!

I hope to hear myself any day now =/

Angel66 could you post your timeline please?

I am waiting on my approval and got the same answer about the case sensitivity and am concerned as well...

Ok so I am about 2 weeks away from having my VAWA pending for 5 months. No RFE so far... I have always reveived all the letters from USCIS so far. Should I schedule an Infopass then, right when the 5 months have passed if I have no news?

Do you know if I have to re do Biometrics for the EAD and AOS. as I had to refile under VAWA?

Sandra, does this mean then, that we cannot rely on the online check tool either?

Hey everyone.

I submitted my VAWA beginning of December 2014.

Have gotten my Prima Facie a week later. (Valid until June 9)

So far I have not gotten an RFE.

Usually it is decided within 4-5 months right?!

I am just getting a little nervous now...

My AOS EAD AP based on my marriage which was filed before VAWA got denied and I refiled.

They received it end of March...

Will I have to re do Biometrics?

Does anyone know?

Also my AOS receipt notice and case status states : Accepted by Lockbox (Fee previously collected)

Whilst my EAD states : Fees waived....

I had submitted a fee waiver for both.

I had submitted the denial letter from my previous AOS. Do they just take the fee from my previous one which I had paid for?

My AOS and EAD were denied, because of lack of sufficent affidativ of support...

Which now under VAWA I did submit a waiver for...

Thank you again to Sandra who was there for me, when I was just devistated and broken by the denial. It was a huge shock, as I was hoping to be working soon =/

As far as I know,, you cannot file for AP under VAWA... Just AOS and EAD...

My husband and his lawyer accepted a deal from the district attorney, and he will plead guilty/no contest to the Felony False Imprisonment charge and the other charges will be read in. He has to follow through with a mandatory domestic violence program. My question is : Should I sent this to the VAWA unit or not? I had submitted my VAWA application beginning of December and so far I have not gotten any RFE. Is it adviced to add this information to the case or only if they ask? I am also filing for divorce and an extension of the restraining order. Should I inform the VAWA unit about this as well? Can I change my name to my maiden name before the divorce is final? Or how does this work? I do not really want to carry my husbands name any longer than I have to...

Very well said NorthArcher!!!

Thank you Sandra!

I actually do fear for my life again. I thought the counseling would open his eyes. But it does not. I am certain, that once the court process is over and the bond from the judge not active anymore, that he will start harrassing me again with messages and try to talk to me.

I will ask the Domestic Abuse Intervention Center to help me with the papers.

I am hoping that someone has an advice for me or personal experience about extending the restraining order and filing for divorce...

I am in the process of the VAWA and have received a Prima Facie recently... I am not sure about what will happen to my AOS and EAD yet, as it had been sent in before the VAWA and has an RFE for the affidativ, which I am unable to reply to. I had sent an explanation with the Prma Facie, but ahve not heard back yet.

I do want to extend the restraining order and I am a little nervous about that, as I have a feeling that my husband will get really really really angry with me ...

I am scared that he will appear in court... I am scared of seeing him ever again to be honest... I thought that he may see why I left and why he got charged with 6 charges if he does counseling... But he still pretends in front of his friends that he has not done anything wrong and that I would have used him...

In the beginning I thought that he may be willing to file for a divorce together... Now I am worried he will fight for that we stay married...

I am worried because he has a lot of debts from before we got married and I am scared that I will have to pay for those now too...

He was doing well in paying them back and seemed as if he had turned his life around and had everyone fooled for a very long time before he showed his true face, after we got married...

We have only been married for about 6 months now... I do not intend to request any money from him or any objects etc... I just want my peace and not have him in my life anymore... The police had surrendered the dog we have to me, when he got arrested and I am sure he will try to get the judge convinced to make me pay his debts and get custody of the dog...

I had paid for all her medical bills and insurance and he had mistreated her too...

I am just anxious and worried...

http://www.avvo.com/legal-guides/ugc/can-i-withdraw-an-immigration-petition

If the case is not yet finally approved you can send a letter either to the USCIS office where you filed the petition or to the consulate (if you already have an initial approval) stating that you want to withdraw the petition. You should also send a copy of the receipt notice. Do not withdraw the case lightly based on an argument with your spouse, fiance, or other relative. There is no reinstatement and no appeal. So, if you change your mind you have to pay all of the fees again and start the process from the beginning.

Yes the outcome is uncertain... Call them first thing tomorrow!

Call them first thing tomorrow... Send them a letter too... Maybe Infopass appointment and explain in person... They may start removal procedures and may deport her if you wait any longer... Without a Sponsor the AOS will be suspended and she is considered illegal...

I am sorry but still, what can someone say that is that bad, that you wish them to get considered illegal...

There are many things said in arguements... That at the time you say out of anger...

It is very hard on both in the beginning of adjusting to the new situation...

Even if there was an incident recently they will arrest him and she can file a restraining order... She does not have to wait to be hit again... If it has not been more than a certain amount of dates she can still file for an incident that is in the past.. Depending on which state the law is different I think... They will arrest him... And that is ok! It is scary and yes he will be angry, but he will be in jail until they decide what will happen with him... The police will offer you to ask for a 72h restraining order. Do it! And then extend it at the court! It is free for victims of domestic vioence! The police also has information who to call and who to contact etc...

You can ask to be informed if and when he gets released. If he has been convicted before for any kind of reason they will most likely keep him in jail for a while...

Again, it is normal to be scared! But do it for your own sake! It only gets worse! Not better!

If you have any messages of him insulting you or where he talks down to you or is making threats, take them with you and show them to the police.

Get it all off your chest and just be upfront and honest with them! It s normal to be ashamed... Men like this who abuse women in such ways try to keep you silent! They know what they do is wrong! They just think that they took away enough of your selfconvidence, that you will not tell anyone...

Break the cicle!

I totally agree with Vagabond1 !! I did just run away from my husband and it took me a while to have the courage to leave!! But enough is enough!! Once I got further and further away I felt like I could finally breathe again and felt free... I enjoy an arguement free day now, quiet time and peace of mind... My phone and my computer are not getting checked all the time anymore... I can speak free, without having to worry that he will twist my words to make up a reason to hurt or attack me... Get out! Leave him! As hard and hurtful as it is... Do it for your own sake! Despite everything I thought he loved me, but now with the distance and talking about it and thinking about it, I realized, he does not even know what love is! All those promises that he will change for my sake and our love are only said, because he wants to control me and make me stay or come back... He would lose his power game of controlling if I do not... Hence why he promises what he does not even mean... Don t do this to yourself!! Stop caring about what is good for him! Because clearly he does not care about what is good for you!!

It took me a lot to go to the police and tell them what has happened... But once I did and when they were so nice and understanding I was not as scared anymore...

A friend of mine said to me : You are fighting for your own well being and livelyhood now!

That was when I realized I had sacrificed who I am and who I want to be to please him and make him happy... But he did not care about anyone but himself...

FIGHT and get out! Fight your emotions and your fear!! It will not be easy, but it will be worth it!!